Two Canadians in women’s top-10 at world juniors

Louis DaignaultMarch 2, 2013, Milan, Italy (ISN) – For the first time in more than 10 years, Canada put two women in the top-10 at the junior world figure skating championships which concluded Saturday with the U.S., and Russia sweeping the medals in the last two finals.

The Russians were 1-2-3 in the women’s final with Elena Radionova first, Julia Lipnitskaia second and Anna Pogorilaya in third.

Gabrielle Daleman of Newmarket, Ont., the Canadian senior silver medallist in January, climbed from eighth after the short program to sixth overall. Alaine Chartrand of Prescott, Ont., also gained ground soaring from 12th to eighth overall.

It is the first time two Canadians reached the top-10 at the world juniors since 2010 Olympic bronze medallist Joannie Rochette and Lauren Wilson were fifth an eighth in 2002.

“My goal coming to this competition was a top-10 so I’m really pleased,” said Daleman, 15. “It was great to have a clean program and hear my teammates cheering me on.”

With few points separating the top-12 after the short program, Chartrand knew there was an opportunity to gain ground.

“I felt going in the long program I was still in the hunt,” said Chartrand, 16. “I was pretty mad about falling on the double Axel in the short I was glad it was better in the long.”

It was an American sweep in men’s competition: Joshua Farris took the gold, Jason Brown the silver and Shotaro Omori the bronze.

Nam Nguyen of Burnaby, B.C., posted the ninth best long program to climb from 16th to 12th overall, one spot better than at last year’s world juniors. Mitchell Gordon of Vancouver landed a triple Axel for the first time in competition and was 16th.

“I popped my triple Axel early but I was able to forget about it,” said Nguyen, 14. “It was important for me to duplicate what I had been doing in practice.”

Canada ends the competition with one silver medal earned by Margaret Purdy of Strathroy, Ont., and Michael Marinaro of Sarnia, Ont., in pairs.